Hay-rack loader or unloader.



No, 628,364. Patented July 4, |899. w. N. slMPKms;v

HAY RACK LOADER 0B UNLDADER.

(Application led Jan. 3, 1899,: (No Model 2 sheets-sheet l.

fui cams Perris co. mmm-urna., WASHINGTDN. vav c.

N0. 628,364. Patented July 4, |899. W. N. SIMPKINS. HAY RACK LOADER DR UNLOADER.

(Application led Jan. 3, 189B.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM N. SIMPKINS, vOF STREATOR, ILLINOIS;

. HAY-RACK LOADER 4OR UNLOADER.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,364, dated July 2l, 1899. Application ned January 3,1899.' Serin No. 701,009, (No man.)

Hay-Rack Loader or Unloader, of which the following is a specification. l-

The invention relates to improvements in devices for placing hay-racks on and removing them from wagons.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofdevices for handling hay-racks and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and e'licient one adapted to enable a hay-rack to be readily placed on and removed from a wagon and capable of supporting a hay-rack in a horizontal position when the same is not in use. v

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangementof parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointe out inthe claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a device constructed in accordance with vthis invention and arranged to receive a hay-rack. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing the hay-rack supported in a horizontal position. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a perspective view,

vthe hay-rack being removed and the parts befront portions of the 'track-bars l extend between a pair of posts or uprights 4, which are arranged a slightly-greater distance apart than the uprights or posts 2 and are connected with the same by inclined braces 5, secured 'to the outer faces of the uprights or posts 2 near the upper ends thereof and. to the inner faces of the uprights or posts 4L near the ground. I

,When the track-bars l are arranged in an inclined position preparatory to receiving a hay-rack, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings, their front ends rest upon horizontal supports 6, consisting of short bars secured to the posts or uprights et in recessesl or mortises thereof and projecting laterallyV from the same. y

. A hay-rack is placed on the inclined bars l by driving the wagon between the uprights or posts l and through the space between the rear uprights or posts 2, causing the crossbars of the hay-rack to engage and rest upon the inclined bars, which lift the rack-from the front bolsters and standards and carry the same upward on the rear standards. The hay-rack is moved forward on the inclined track-bars until it nearly reaches a balance, so that it may be readily lifted by hand to disengage it from-the rear standards and carry it into a horizontal position, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings. vinclined track-bars when swung upwardto a horizontal position are supported .at their front ends by pivoted bars 7, mounted on the uprights or posts 4, as 'clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and et of the accompanying drawings. The bars or supports 7, which are pivoted at their lower ends at 8, are arranged in guides or keepers 9' and have their upper ends recessed at l0 to prevent any liability of the` track-bars springing out of engagement with the pivoted supporting-bars. The keepers or guides, which are horizontal, consist ofl The metal straps or pieces secured to the horizontal bars or supports 6 and adapted tov limit the inward and outward swing of the bars 7.

When it is desired to place the hay-rack on The invention has the following advan- IOO tages: The device, which is simple, inexpensive, stron g, and durable, 1s adapted to enable ahay-rack to be readily placed on and removed from a wagon, and it forms an efiieient support for the hay-rack when the latter is not in use. The pivoted bars 7, which swinglaterally of the device, are adapted to hold theV track-bars in a horizontal position, and the horizontal supports, upon which the guides or keepers are mounted, support the front ends of the track-bars when the latter are arranged in an inclined position.

It will be observed that the laterally-mevable latch-bars positively engage under the ends of the track-rails, and thereby relieve the strain on the pivots of the said rails when the rack is supported thereby. The maintaining of the track-rails in a horizontal position is also assured by this arrangement, so that there is no liability of the rack being unduly removed from the rails. The keepers passing over the lower portions of the latch-bars prevent them moving beyond the point at which they engage the rails, and by engaging the bars directly under the rails I avoid the use of a notched bar and pin, which construction is objectionable for the reason that the pi n is apt to split the latch-bar and is also liable to bend under the strain put upon it.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any'of the advantages of this invention..

That is claimed isl. A device of the class described comprising the pivotally mounted track-bars fulcrumed on suitable supports and adapted to be arranged in an inclined position to receive a hay-rack, supports arranged to receive the front portions of the track-bars when the same are in an inclined position, and laterally-Inovable devices adapted to swing into and out of the path of the track-bars and engage under the front ends thereof when ,they are raised, whereby the said bars are supported in a horizontal position, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described comprising a pair of track-bars fulcrumed on suitable supports and adapted to be arranged either in an inclined position or horizontally, the front uprights provided with horizontal supports extending laterally from the uprights and-arranged to receive the track-bars when the same are in an inclined position, and the laterally-movable bars pivotally mounted on the uprights and adapted to swing beneath the front ends of the track-bars and positively engage the same to support the bars when in a horizontal position, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described comprising the rear uprights, track-bars fulcrumed thereon, the front uprights, horizontal bars mounted on the front uprights and projecting therefrom to support the track-bars in an inclined position, the guides or keepers mounted on the horizontal bars, and the laterally-movable bars arranged in the guides or keepers, pivoted at their lower ends to the front uprights and having their upper ends arranged to project under and receive the track-bars when in a horizontal position, substantially as described.

4. A device of the class described comprising the pivotally-mounted track-bars fulcrumed on suitable supports and adapted to be arranged in an inclined position to receive a hay-rack, pivoted bars arranged to swing beneath the track-bars after they are raised to support the saine in a horizontal position and provided at their upper ends with recesses receiving the said track-bars, and horizontal guides receiving the pivoted bars and limiting the swing of the same, substantially as described.

5. The improved device for removing hayracks from wagon beds and for replacing them, herein described and shown, consisting of two pairs of uprights, track-bars pivotally mounted on the upper ends of the rear uprights and normally inclined downward toward the front uprights, horizontal rests on the front uprights supporting the front ends of the track-bars when they are lowered, keepers on said horizontal rests, and'laterallymovable latch-bars pivoted at their lower ends to the front uprights, passing upward through the keepers and adapted to have their upper ends swung inward under the front ends of the track-bars when said bars are raised.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as IOO my own I have hereto aiixed my signature in LORENA (juunnueic, lAUL R. CnUnnUcK. 

